Resource allocation apparatus and method for reducing overhead in mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

An operating method of a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system includes calculating a total amount of resources allocated to a corresponding subframe in a period of a corresponding fixed allocation resource; when the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe is greater than a threshold, temporarily canceling one or more corresponding fixed allocation resources to make the total amount of the resources allocated to the corresponding subframe less than or equal to the threshold; and reallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocation resources according to a corresponding rule.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation in-part application of theU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/386,471 filed on Apr. 17, 2009,which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an application filed inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 17, 2008 and assignedSerial No. 10-2008-0035559, and the Korean Intellectual Property Officeon Apr. 17, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0033460, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication systemfor resource allocation. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a resource allocation changing apparatus and method forreducing overhead in a mobile communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with increasing domestic and foreign attention on a4^(th)-Generation (4G) mobile communication, research is being conductedon systems for meeting the requirements of the 4G mobile communication.Particularly, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)scheme, which features high transmission efficiency and a simple channelequalization, attracts attention as one of the suitable schemes for the4G mobile communication system. The OFDM scheme is adopted as a wirelesstransmission standard for the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.16 and other systems.

An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme, whichallocates different subcarriers per the user, transmits data bysplitting the frequency band in use into a plurality of small frequencybands (that is, into subchannels and times).

Meanwhile, for the time/frequency resource allocation in the OFDMA basedmobile communication system, the resources are allocated using ascheduler, and the allocation information is transmitted using a controlsignal. To reduce overhead of the control information, the previouslyallocated region without particular control information can be reused.That is, the resource region of every frame is fixedly allocated andused until the resource region is changed or released separately.

Since a period of using the previously allocated region differs in thefixed allocation, the same resource of a specific time point may beallocated to multiple users at the same time. At this time, thescheduler changes the resource allocation locations of the correspondingusers to make them recognize their changed resource allocation regions.When transmitting the changed information, the scheduler needs to sendadditional control information.

However, conventional methods transmit the additional controlinformation of the changed resource allocation region without takinginto account various possible resource collisions in the fixed resourceallocation, and thus may suffer the overhead.

Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and a method for efficientlytransmitting the control information required to change the fixedresource allocation region in the mobile communication system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary aspect of the present invention to solve at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to address at least the above mentioned problems and/ordisadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below.Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a method for a fixed resource allocation in a mobilecommunication system.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a resourceallocation apparatus and method for reducing overhead when a fixedresource allocation is changed in a mobile communication system.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand a method for determining a roll-over resource in a fixed resourceallocation of a mobile communication system.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an operating method ofa base station for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system includes, when there is needto change the fixed resource allocation, calculating necessary controlinformation amounts with respect to at least two resource allocationchanging methods respectively; selecting a resource allocation changingmethod that requires the least amount of control information; andtransmitting a control information required for the resource allocationchange to at least one terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an operatingmethod of a terminal for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system includes, when receiving afixed allocation change control message, determining a correspondingresource allocation changing method; determining a location of a fixedallocation resource changed according to the corresponding resourceallocation region changing method; and receiving or transmitting acorresponding traffic from the location of the changed fixed allocationresource.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusof a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system includes a controller for,when there is need to change the fixed resource allocation, calculatingnecessary control information amounts with respect to at least tworesource allocation changing methods; and a resource allocator forselecting a resource allocation changing method which requires the leastamount of control information; and transmitting a message comprisingcontrol information required for the resource allocation change to atleast one terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusof a terminal for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system includes a resource allocationchecker for, when receiving a fixed allocation change control message,determining a corresponding resource allocation changing method andlocating a fixed allocation resource changed according to thecorresponding resource allocation region changing method; and acontroller for receiving a corresponding traffic from the location ofthe changed fixed allocation resource.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an operatingmethod of a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation toreduce overhead in temporarily canceling one or more corresponding fixedallocation resources; and reallocating the one or more canceled fixedallocation resources according to a corresponding rule.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an operatingmethod of a terminal for changing a fixed resource allocation to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system includes receiving informationto change a fixed allocation resource in a corresponding fixedallocation resource cycle; locating a fixed allocation resource changedby a corresponding rule based on the information to change the fixedallocation resource; and receiving traffic in the changed fixedallocation resource location.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments the present invention will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates operations of a base station for changing a fixedresource allocation region in a broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates operations of a terminal for changing the fixedresource allocation region in the broadband wireless communicationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates operations of the base station for roll-over in thefixed resource allocation in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates operations of the terminal for the roll-over in thefixed resource allocation in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates operations of the base station for the roll-over inthe fixed resource allocation in the broadband wireless communicationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates operations of the terminal for the roll-over in thefixed resource allocation in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation region inthe broadband wireless communication system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation region inthe broadband wireless communication system according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation when theroll-over is applied in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to one exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to another exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to yet another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a timing of the previous periodic resourceallocation according to a roll-over scheme according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a timing of the previous periodic resourceallocation according to a roll-over scheme according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a base station for changing the fixed resourceallocation region in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 illustrates a terminal for changing the fixed resourceallocation region in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 18, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged communication system.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.Terminologies described below are defined with consideration offunctions in the present invention, and can change depending on theintention or practice of a user or operator. Therefore, the definitionsshould be determined on the basis of the descriptions over thespecification.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus anda method for changing a fixed resource allocation region to reduceoverhead in a mobile communication system, and an apparatus and a methodfor determining a roll-over resource in the fixed resource allocation.While a broadband wireless communication system (the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 system) isillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 17, the present invention is applicableto other wireless communication systems.

Hereinafter, a certain time interval (a symbol interval) including aplurality of subcarriers constituting one subchannel is defined as aslot in the broadband wireless communication system. A plurality ofslots constitutes one radio resource unit. That is, single frame iscomposed of a plurality of subframes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart outlining operations of a base stationfor changing a fixed resource allocation region in a broadband wirelesscommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

In step 100, the base station determines whether it is necessary torelease or change the resource in the fixed resource allocation region.When there is no need to release or change the resource, the basestation sustains the existing resource allocation region in step 104.

When a resource release or change is required, in step 102, the basestation calculates control information amounts B_(b) and B_(s) requiredto release and change the resource when a first method and a secondmethod, respectively, are adopted. Herein, B_(b) denotes the controlinformation amount required for the first method, and B_(s) denotes thecontrol information amount required for the second method.

Alternatively, when the resource release or change is not required, instep 104, the base station sustains the existing resource allocationregion. To change other resource allocation regions excluding one A ofresource allocation regions collided at a scheduler, the first methodalters the collided resource regions to un-collided regions by changingthe slot offsets of the collided resource allocation regions. At thistime, the control information transmitted requires identifiers of thecollided resource regions and the slot offset value to change. When thefirst method is applied, the control information amount fundamentallyrequired is expressed as Equation 1:B _(b) =N _(b)(X+Y)[bits].  [Eqn. 1]

In Equation 1, N_(b) denotes the number of resource regions to bechanged, X denotes the number of bits required to represent a trafficIdentifier (ID), and Y denotes the number of bits required to representthe slot offset. The first method is illustrated in FIG. 4.

To change other resource allocation regions excluding the one A ofresource allocation regions collided at the scheduler, the second methodsequentially allocates the other allocation resource regions excludingthe previously allocated regions including A as many as the allocatedslots. Control information transmitted carries a bitmap indicative ofunallocated resources to be filled with the collided resource regionsand the previously allocated regions, traffic IDs of the resourceregions to be changed, and the number of the allocated slots.Accordingly, when the collided resource is considerable, the slot notadjacent can be allocated. Using the second method, the controlinformation amount fundamentally required is expressed as Equation 2:B _(s) =N _(s)(X+Y)+Z[bits].  [Eqn. 2]

In Equation 2, N_(s) denotes the number of resource regions to bechanged, X denotes the number of bits required to represent the trafficID, Y denotes the number of bits required to represent the duration, andZ denotes the number of bits required to constitute the bitmap. Thesecond method is illustrated in FIG. 5.

In step 106, the base station compares the information amount B_(s)required for the resource release or change of the second method withthe information amount B_(b) required for the resource release or changeof the first method. When B_(s) is greater than B_(b), the base stationreleases or changes the resource using the first method in step 108.When B_(s) is less than B_(b), the base station releases or changes theresource using the second method in step 110. When B_(s) is equal toB_(b), the base station can release or change the resource by selectingeither the first method or the second method as the default value.

In step 112, the base station transmits a fixed allocation InformationElement (IE) message including the resource release and resource changeinformation. Herein, the control information contained in the fixedallocation IE message can be transmitted through a joint codingdecodable by every user, or through a separate coding decodable byparticular user(s).

The fixed allocation IE message format is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Content # of bits Comment Length X bits Indicate # of bitsrequired for resource change message Bitmap indicator 1 bit 1->Existbitmap, 0->No exist bitmap If bitmap indicator = 1 Slot bitmap (length =# of total slots) # of slot offsets or durations For i=1: # of slotoffsets or durations Traffic ID Slot offset or Duration

Herein, the control information for the resource allocation regionchange includes a control information length, a bitmap (required whenthe second method is applied), a slot offset/duration information, andso forth. The bitmap is constituted by representing the previouslyallocated slot as ‘1’ (or ‘0’) and previously unallocated region as ‘0’(or ‘1’) per slot. The slots indicated by ‘0’ are allocated in sequenceby the corresponding duration in the order of the traffic of the changedslot offset. The slot offset/duration information includes the trafficID required for the location change of each resource region and theinformation required for the location change.

When the collided resource region is changed using the second method,the bitmap indicator is set to ‘1’. The bitmap information follows thebitmap indicator. IDs of the traffics to be changed and the number ofthe allocated resources are transmitted in the slot offset or duration.In the first method, the bitmap indicator is set to ‘0’, and the offsetor duration carries the IDs of the traffics to be changed and the slotoffset value of the changed resource allocation region without thebitmap information.

Next, the base station finishes this process for changing the fixedresource allocation region.

While the two fixed resource allocation changing methods (the firstmethod and the second method) are explained in FIG. 1, n-ary fixedresource allocation changing methods can be adopted. Of the n-ary fixedresource allocation changing methods, a method having the least amountof information is selected by computing the information amount requiredfor the smallest resource release or change, and thus the fixedallocation IE message is transmitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart outlining operations of a terminal forchanging the fixed resource allocation region in the broadband wirelesscommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Upon receiving the fixed allocation IE message in step 200, the terminaldetermines the resource release or change information in step 202 (seeTable 1).

In step 204, the terminal releases or changes its allocated resourceaccording to the first method or the second method based on the bitmapindicator information contained in the fixed allocation IE message.

In step 206, the terminal communicates with the base station accordingto the fixed resource allocation change.

Next, the terminal finishes this process of changing the fixed resourceallocation region.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of operations of the base station for theroll-over resource in the fixed resource allocation in the broadbandwireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

In step 300, the base station calculates the sum N_(a) of thepre-allocated resources at the corresponding time point.

If the sum N_(a) of the pre-allocated resources is greater than theavailable slots of the current subframe in step 302, the base stationdetermines the fixed allocation resource to be rolled over in step 304.By contrast, if the sum N_(a) of the pre-allocated resources is lessthan or equal to the available slots of the current subframe in step302, the base station operates in the corresponding mode.

To determine the resource to be rolled over among the entirepre-allocated region, at least one resource region to be rolled over canbe selected according to ascending order of the size of the allocatedresource regions collided at the scheduler, until N_(a) becomes lessthan or equal to the available resource regions of the current subframe.Alternatively, at least one resource region to be rolled over can bedetermined by the order of data priority.

According to another embodiment, at least one resource region to berolled over is determined by considering a capability of the scheduler.That is, the scheduler determines that a resource is allocated in acertain resource region of a subframe after passing how many resourceregions of subframes.

For example, if, in the base station, an overhead for dealing with aroller-over of a fixed allocation resource with a temporary non-use of afixed allocation resource in a subframe is less than an overhead fordealing with a fixed allocation for the fixed allocation resource in thesubframe, the scheduler determines a roll-over of the fixed allocationresource to pass at least one resource region of subframe. The locationchange of the rolled-over fixed allocation resource is illustrated inFIG. 10 through FIG. 14. In other words, the change of the resourceregion in which the rolled-over resource is allocated is illustrated inFIG. 10 through FIG. 14.

In step 306, the base station transmits a roll-over indication messageincluding the information relating to the roll-over resource regions(e.g., ID of the traffic rolled over, transmission point of theroll-over traffic) to the corresponding terminal according to therelevant rule.

The message instructing the roll over is transmitted as part of theresource allocation change message of Table 2, or only the correspondingmessage is transmitted independently. Herein, the message indicative ofthe roll over is included to the resource allocation change message. Auser of the same ID as the traffic ID of the roll-over messagerecognizes that its pre-allocated resource region is canceled in thecurrent subframe. Note that the rolled-over resource region is canceledsolely in the current subframe, not permanently.

TABLE 2 Content # of bits Comment Length X bits Indicate # of bitsrequired for resource change message Bitmap indicator 1 bit 1->Existbitmap, 0->No exist bitmap If bitmap indicator = 1 Slot bitmap (length =# of total slots) # of slot offsets or durations For i=1: # of slotoffsets or durations Traffic ID Slot offset or Duration For i=1: # ofroll over traffics Traffic ID

The control information for the resource allocation region includes acontrol information length, a bitmap, a slot offset/duration, and IDinformation of the rolled-over traffic. FIG. 9 illustrates therolled-over fixed resource allocation.

In step 308, the base station transmits or receives data using therolled-over fixed allocation resource in the rolled-over resourceregion.

Next, the base station finishes this process of determining therolled-over resource.

In various implementations, the base station can provide not only theinformation relating to the rolled-over resource region but alsoinformation indicative of when the rolled-over resource region istransmitted.

When the total resource amount of the pre-allocated resource regions isgreater than the total resource amount of the subframe, the rolled-overfixed resource allocation is illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, whenthe required control information indicative of the resource allocated toother terminal because the corresponding resource region is excessivelydemanded and in some other cases, the fixed resource allocation regionto be rolled over may be determined by taking into account the channelcondition. As mentioned earlier, the fixed resource allocation regioncan be determined by applying the roll-over scheme to thesynchronization system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of operations of the terminal for theroll-over in the fixed resource allocation in the broadband wirelesscommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The terminal uses the fixed resource allocation in step 400 anddetermines whether the corresponding fixed allocation resource ischanged by the roll-over through the received roll-over indicationmessage (see Table 2) in step 402.

When the corresponding fixed allocation resource is changed, theterminal waits to receive data during downlink or transmits data duringuplink in the fixed allocation resource changed by the roll-over in step404.

Next, the terminal finishes this process.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of operations of the base station for theroll-over in the fixed resource allocation in the broadband wirelesscommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

In step 500, the base station calculates the sum N_(a) of thepre-allocated resources at the corresponding time.

If the sum N_(a) of the pre-allocated resources is greater than theavailable slots of the current subframe in step 502, the base stationtemporarily cancels at least one fixed allocation resource according toa predefined rule in step 504. For example, one or more resource regionsto be deallocated can be determined by ascending order of the size amongthe collided allocation resource regions until the sum becomes less thanor equal to the total resource region allocable in the current subframe.Alternatively, one or more resource regions to be deallocated can bedetermined by the data priority.

By contrast, when the sum N_(a) of the pre-allocated resources is equalto or less than the available slots of the current subframe in step 502,the base station operates in the corresponding mode.

In step 506, the base station transmits the control message includingthe information relating to the deallocated resource region (e.g., thecorresponding traffic ID or the resource location for the correspondingtraffic, temporary cancellation indicator) according to thecorresponding rule to the corresponding terminal. The temporarycancellation indicator can be implemented using the type of thecorresponding control information.

Next, the base station finishes this process.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of operations of the terminal for theroll-over in the fixed resource allocation in the broadband wirelesscommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The terminal utilizes the fixed allocation resource in step 600 anddetermines whether the corresponding fixed allocation resource istemporarily canceled or not by referring to the information relating tothe received resource region to be canceled in step 602.

When the corresponding fixed allocation resource is canceled, theterminal waits for the fixed allocation resource at the locationcorresponding to the next period of the current canceled fixedallocation resource in step 604. For example, when the fixed allocationresource is canceled for the n-th corresponding frame of the fixedallocation resources of 10 frame cycle, the terminal receives ortransmits data in the next (n+10)-th frame.

Next, the terminal finishes this process.

FIG. 7 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation region inthe broadband wireless communication system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

The entire resource is divided into small resource regions (hereafter,referred to as slots), and a unique index is given to each resourceregion. The base station can inform of the resource allocation of theparticular region through the slot offset and duration information withrespect to a specific traffic of a particular terminal. However, wheninforming of the resource region allocated per time (hereafter, aminimum unit of the time region for the resource allocation is referredto as a subframe), the base station transmits too many control signalsand thus deteriorates the transmission efficiency. Thus, the region onceallocated is reused after a particular subframe without any controlinformation. The reuse of the region pre-allocated to the particularuser in the particular subframe without any control information isreferred to as the fixed resource allocation.

The fixed resource allocation, which reuses the region pre-allocated tothe particular user in the particular subframe without any controlinformation, is conducted in the following cases.

In the data transmission for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ)retransmission, the resource region previously used is reused(Retransmission). The resource allocated to a particular subframe iseffective for successive subframes (Long TTI). The subframe of aparticular period is persistently allocated to a particular user(Persistent allocation).

However, disadvantageously, the particular resource region of thecurrent subframe is fixedly allocated to multiple terminals in advance,which is referred to as resource collision. In this case, the multipleallocation resource regions collided need to be shifted to otherresource regions, and their changed locations need to be provided to theuser terminals using the control message.

For example, as for the resource collision in the fixed resourceallocation according to the first method, a resource region 700 forRetransmission A which starts at the point OA 708 collides with aresource region 702 for Persistent allocation B which starts at thepoint OB 710 in the m-th subframe. A resource region 704 for Persistentallocation C which starts at the point OC 712 collides with a resourceregion 706 for Long TTI in the m-th subframe. The resource region 706starts at the point OD 714. The resource region 740 is an unallocatedresource region.

To avoid the collisions of the allocation resource regions 700, 702 and704, the start point OA 708 of the resource region 700 for theRetransmission A is shifted to OA′ 709, the start point of the resourceregion 702 for the Persistent allocation B is shifted to OB′ 711, andthe start point of the resource region 704 for the Persistent allocationC is shifted to OC′ 713. While there is no need to change the startpoint of the resource region 706 for the Long TTI in this example, itmay be altered in some cases.

The first method transmits the fixed allocation IE message including theinformation (OA→OA′, OB→OB′, and OC→OC′) changed by the slot offset 730to the corresponding terminal (see Table 1).

FIG. 8 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation region inthe broadband wireless communication system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

As for the resource collision in the fixed resource allocation accordingto the second method, when a resource region 800 for Retransmission A, aresource region 802 for Persistent allocation B, a resource region 804for Persistent allocation C, a resource region 806 for Long TTI D, and aresource region 808 for Retransmission E are fixedly resource allocatedin the m-th subframe, the resource region 802 for Persistent allocationB and the resource region 804 for Persistent allocation C collide witheach other. A resource region 840 is an unallocated resource region.

The second method informs of the change of the fixed resource allocationregions by transmitting the bitmap indicative of the unallocatedresources which can be filled with the collided resource regions and thepre-allocated resource regions, the traffic ID (Persistent allocation C,Long TTI D) requiring the resource allocation change, and the number ofthe allocated slots (or duration).

In the fixed resource allocation change of the second method, resourcecollision is prevented by sustaining the resource regions forRetransmission A 800, Persistent allocation B 802, and Retransmission E808 and shifting the resource regions for Persistent allocation C 804and Long TTI D 806 to Persistent allocation C 805 and Long TTI D 807,respectively, using the bitmap information 820 and the duration 830.

The first method changes the location information of all the resourceregions excluding one resource region among the collided resourceregions, whereas the second method sustains the resource regions withoutchanging them at maximum and changes the collided other resource regionsusing the other resource regions. Thus, in some cases, the second methodcan transmit the fixed resource allocation information with lessinformation than the first method.

FIG. 9 illustrates a change of the fixed resource allocation when theroll-over is applied in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the entire resource is fixedly allocated as a resource region 900for Retransmission A, a resource region 902 for Persistent Allocation B,a resource region 904 for Retransmission C, a resource region 906 forRetransmission E, and a resource region 908 for Retransmission F in them-th subframe, the resource region 902 for Persistent allocation Bcollides with the resource region 904 for Retransmission C. Also, it isassumed that the resource region 906 for Retransmission E collides withthe resource region 908 for Retransmission F. A resource region 910 isan unallocated resource region.

When the sum of the fixedly allocated resources of the m-th frame isgreater than the total available resource of the current subframe, theresource region 908 for Retransmission F to be rolled over is selectedand canceled by ascending order of the size. The canceled resourceregion 908 for Retransmission F is allocated to the next (m+1)-thsubframe or the (m+n)-th subframe. Alternatively, the canceled resourceregion can be allocated to the next subframe of a particular period.

For doing so, the changed resource regions are provided using the bitmap930 and the duration information 940 as in the fixed resource allocationof the second method, and the rolled-over resource region is providedusing the roll over IE information 950. Alternatively, when thecontrolled quantity of the fixed resource allocation change is quiteless in the first method, the information may be provided using thecontrol information of the first method and the roll over IE information950.

As such, when the pre-allocated fixed resource region is changed in then-th frame according to the first or second method, the traffic istransmitted over the changed region in the (n+1)-th subframe as well.For example, in the synchronous HARQ retransmission, when a packet isretransmitted over the changed resource allocation region and notsuccessfully received, the packet is retransmitted over the changedresource allocation region again. In the fixed resource allocation in acertain cycle, packets are transmitted over the changed region after theresource region change.

When the roll over delays the cycle of the fixed resource allocation bya certain number of subframes, sequent time intervals of the fixedresource allocation can be also delayed by the certain number of thesubframes.

Alternatively, when the changed fixed resource allocation region iseffective only in the current subframe and fixedly allocated in the nextsubframe, the present invention is applicable to a method that uses thepre-allocated resource region (the fixed resource allocation not yetchanged).

FIG. 10 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to one exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

In the corresponding frame including a plurality of subframes in FIG.10, when the resource region 1002 of the N-th subframe 1000 is rolledover, the rolled-over resource region 1002 moves to the same location1012 of the next subframe (that is, the (N+1)-th subframe 1010). In sodoing, the traffic ID corresponding to the resource region or thepre-allocated resource location, and the indication informationindicative of the movement to the same location of the next subframe areneeded.

FIG. 11 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to another exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

When the resource region 1102 of the N-th subframe 1100 is rolled overin the corresponding frame including a plurality of subframes in FIG.11, the rolled-over resource region 1102 moves to the same location 1112of the N-th subframe 1110 of the next frame. In so doing, the traffic IDcorresponding to the resource region or the pre-allocated resourcelocation, and the indication information indicative of the movement tothe same location of the next subframe are needed.

FIG. 12 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to yet another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

When the resource region 1202 of the N-th subframe 1200 is rolled overin the corresponding frame including a plurality of subframes in FIG.12, the rolled-over resource region 1202 moves to a certain subframe1210 of the next frame 1212. In so doing, the traffic ID correspondingto the resource region or the pre-allocated resource location, therolled-over subframe index, and the changed resource locationinformation (the resource region offset in the certain subframe 1210 ofthe next frame) are further provided.

FIG. 13 illustrates a resource location change for the rolled-over fixedresource allocation resource according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

When the resource region 1302 of the N-th subframe 1300 is rolled overin the corresponding frame including a plurality of subframes in FIG.13, the base station indicates the temporary cancellation of theresource to be used and instructs the terminal to monitor the controlinformation of a specific subframe 1310. The terminal can monitor thecontrol information of the specific subframe pre-designated without theindex of the specific subframe. Alternatively, the terminal can monitorthe control information of the corresponding subframe by designating thespecific subframe. New resource is allocated in the correspondingsubframe through the control information 1312.

To minimize the control information receive power of the terminal, theterminal can enter a sleep mode to monitor the control information onlyin the specific subframe and sleep in other subframes. When receivingthe control information of FIG. 13, exclusively, the terminal monitorsthe control information by switching from the sleep mode to an activemode in the corresponding subframe.

FIG. 14 illustrates a location change of the rolled-over fixedallocation resource according to a still another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

When the fixed allocation resource, in a resource region 1402 of theN-th subframe 1400 of a frame including a plurality of subframes, isrolled over, the base station, in an information of a roll-over controlof the N-th subframe 1400, indicates a temporary cancellation of use ofthe fixed allocation resource and instructs the terminal to monitor aplurality of control information from the N-th subframe 1400 to asubframe 1420 which is a maximum available subframe in which therolled-over fixed allocation resource can be allocated.

The terminal monitors a plurality of control information from the N-thsubframe 1400 to the subframe 1420 to find the subframe in which therolled-over fixed allocation resource is allocated using the controlinformation of the plurality of sub-frames which are from the N-thsubframe 1400 to the subframe 1420.

That is, the base station allocates resource to be rolled over betweenthe N-th subframe 1400 and the subframe 1420 which is the maximumavailable subframe in which the rolled-over fixed allocation resourcecan be allocated.

Also, the maximum available subframe in which the rolled-over fixedallocation resource can be allocated is determined according to amaximum HARO retransmission time when the rolled-over fixed allocationresource is for a synchronous HARQ retransmission. FIG. 15 illustrates atiming of the previous periodic resource allocation according to theroll-over scheme according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Fixed allocation resources 1500, 1510, and 1520 are assigned to thecorresponding subframes in a certain cycle 1502. When the fixedallocation resource 1510 is rolled over, the fixed allocation resource1510 is moved by the corresponding rule 1512 (FIGS. 10 through 14).Next, in the next period, the fixed allocation resource 1520 is alsomoved according to the corresponding rule regardless of the roll-over1522.

That is, the previous period resource allocation after the roll-overmoves the corresponding fixed allocation resource regardless of theroll-over.

FIG. 16 illustrates a timing of the previous periodic resourceallocation according to the roll-over scheme according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fixed allocation resources 1600, 1610, and 1620 are assigned to thecorresponding subframes in a certain period 1602. When the fixedallocation resource 1610 is rolled over, the fixed allocation resource1610 is moved according to the corresponding rule 1612 (FIGS. 10 through14). Next, in the next period, the fixed allocation resource 1620 is notaffected by the previous roll-overs 1610 and 1612.

That is, when there is no next roll-over, the roll-over in theparticular subframe does not exert influence on the next periodicresource allocation.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a base station for changing thefixed resource allocation region in the broadband wireless communicationsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The base station of FIG. 17 includes a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter1700, an OFDM modulator 1702, a subcarrier mapper 1704, an encoder 1706,a controller 1608, a resource allocator 1710, a decoder 1712, asubcarrier demapper 1714, an OFDM demodulator 1716, and an RF receiver1718.

The resource allocator 1710 allocates the radio resources to theterminals. Particularly, the resource allocator 1710 determines thefixed resource allocation region in the frame, determines the locationof the radio resource to be allocated to the terminal, and primarilyallocates the radio resources. The detailed resource allocation functionof the resource allocator 1710 differs in various embodiments of thepresent invention, which shall be described in further detail after thegeneral functions of the component blocks are explained.

The encoder 1706 encodes and modulates the bit stream provided from thecontroller 1608 and converts to complex symbols.

The subcarrier mapper 1704 maps the complex symbols output from theencoder 1706 to the subcarriers according to the result of the resourceallocation of the resource allocator 1710. The OFDM modulator 1702converts the signals per subcarrier output from the subcarrier mapper1704 to a time-domain signal through Inverse Fast Fourier Transform(IFFT) operation, and constitutes OFDM symbols by inserting a CyclicPrefix (CP). The RF transmitter 1700 up-converts the baseband signaloutput from the OFDM modulator 1702 to an RF signal and transmits the RFsignal via an antenna.

The RF receiver 1718 down-converts an RF signal received via an antennato a baseband signal. The OFDM demodulator 1716 classifies the signaloutput from the RF receiver 1618 based on the OFDM symbol, removes theCP, and restores the signals per subcarrier through a FFT operation. Thesubcarrier demapper 1714 classifies the signals per subcarrier outputfrom the OFDM demodulator 1716 based on the processing unit. The decoder1712 demodulates and decodes the signals output from the subcarrierdemapper 1714, and converts them to the bit stream.

In the operations of the base station, the resource allocator 1710determines whether the resource release and change is necessary or notin the fixed resource allocation region. When there is no need torelease and change the resource, the resource allocator 1710 sustainsthe existing resource allocation regions.

When the resource release and change is required, the resource allocator1710 calculates the control information amounts B_(b) and B_(s) requiredto release and change the resource when the first method and the secondmethod are adopted respectively. Herein, B_(b) denotes the controlinformation amount required for the first method and B_(s) denotes thecontrol information amount required for the second method. The firstmethod and the second method have been explained in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The resource allocator 1710 compares the information amount B_(s)required for the resource release or change of the second method withthe information amount B_(b) required for the resource release or changeof the first method. When B_(s) is greater than B_(b), the resourceallocator 1710 releases or changes the resource using the first method.When B_(s) is less than B_(b), the resource allocator 1610 releases orchanges the resource using the second method. When B_(s) is equal toB_(b), the resource allocator 1710 can release or change the resource byarbitrarily selecting either the first method or the second method asthe default value.

The controller 1708 transmits the fixed allocation IE message includingthe resource release and resource change information. Herein, thecontrol information contained in the fixed allocation IE message can betransmitted through the joint coding decodable by every user, or throughthe separate coding decodable only by particular user(s). The fixedallocation IE message format is shown in Table 1.

The encoder 1706 encodes and modulates the fixed allocation IE messageoutput from the controller 1708. Next, the fixed allocation IE messagepasses through the subcarrier mapper 1704, the OFDM modulator 1702, andthe RF transmitter 1700, and then multicast to the terminals compliantwith the fixed resource allocation.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the controller 1708 computes the sum of thefixed resource allocation regions during a certain time for the resourceallocation. When the sum of the fixed resource allocation regions isgreater than the currently available resource allocation regions, thecontroller 1708 selects the resource regions to be rolled over byascending order of the size so as to make the total fixed resourceallocation region less than or equal to the currently available resourceallocation regions. The resource allocator 1710 changes the resourceallocation regions while excluding the rolled-over resource regions.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a terminal for changing the fixed resourceallocation region in the broadband wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal of FIG. 18 includes an RF transmitter 1800, an OFDMmodulator 1802, a subcarrier mapper 1804, an encoder 1806, a controller1808, a resource allocation checker 1810, a decoder 1812, a subcarrierdemapper 1814, an OFDM demodulator 1816, and an RF receiver 1818. Thecomponents of the terminal, except for the resource allocation checker1810, are substantially the same as those of the base station and shallnot be further explained here.

Upon receiving the fixed allocation IE message, the resource allocationchecker 1810 confirms the resource release or resource changeinformation (see Table 1). According to the bitmap indicator informationin the fixed allocation IE message, the resource allocation checker 1810releases or changes its allocated resource using the first or secondmethod. The controller 1808 communicates with the base station accordingto the result of the changed fixed resource allocation.

As described above, by comparing the control information amountsrequired for the resource change in the resource collision in the mobilecommunication system, the location of the fixed resource allocationregion can be efficiently changed by use of the minimum controlinformation.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An operating method of a base station for changing a fixed resourceallocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system, themethod comprising: calculating necessary amounts of control informationwith respect to at least two resource allocation changing methods whenthere is need to change the fixed resource allocation; selecting aresource allocation changing method which requires a least amount ofcontrol information; and transmitting a control information required forthe resource allocation change to at least one terminal.
 2. Theoperating method of claim 1, wherein the control information istransmitted through a joint coding decodable by all users, or through aseparate coding decodable only by particular users.
 3. The operatingmethod of claim 1, wherein one of the resource allocation regionchanging methods changes slot offsets of other allocation resourcesexcluding one of collided resource regions to avoid collision.
 4. Theoperating method of claim 1, wherein one of the resource allocationregion changing methods allocates other allocation resource, excludingpre-allocated resources comprising one of collided resource regions, toun-allocated resource regions in sequence.
 5. The operating method ofclaim 1, wherein the control information comprises at least one of abitmap indicative of pre-allocated resource regions and un-allocatedresource regions, a traffic Identifier (ID), a slot offset, a slotduration, and an indicator indicative of the resource allocationchanging method.
 6. An operating method of a terminal for changing afixed resource allocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communicationsystem, the method comprising: determining a corresponding resourceallocation changing method upon receiving a fixed allocation changecontrol message; determining a location of a fixed allocation resourcechanged according to the corresponding resource allocation changingmethod; and at least one of receiving or transmitting a correspondingtraffic from the location of the changed fixed allocation resource. 7.The operating method of claim 6, wherein the fixed allocation changecontrol message comprises at least one of a bitmap indicative ofpre-allocated resource regions and un-allocated resource regions, atraffic Identifier (ID), a slot offset, a slot duration, and anindicator indicative of the resource allocation changing method.
 8. Anapparatus of a base station for changing a fixed resource allocation toreduce overhead in a mobile communication system, the apparatuscomprising: a controller configured to calculate necessary amounts ofcontrol information with respect to at least two resource allocationchanging methods when there is need to change the fixed resourceallocation; and a resource allocator configured to select a resourceallocation changing method which requires a least amount of controlinformation, and transmitting a message comprising control informationrequired for the resource allocation change to at least one terminal. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control information in the messageis transmitted through a joint coding decodable by all users, or througha separate coding decodable only by particular users.
 10. The apparatusof claim 8, wherein one of the resource allocation region changingmethods changes slot offsets of other allocation resources excluding oneof collided resource regions to avoid collision.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein one of the resource allocation region changing methodsallocates other allocation resource, excluding pre-allocated resourcescomprising one of collided resource regions to un-allocated resourceregions in sequence.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controlinformation comprises at least one of a bitmap indicative ofpre-allocated resource regions and un-allocated resource regions, atraffic Identifier (ID), a slot offset, a slot duration, and anindicator indicative of the resource allocation changing method.
 13. Anapparatus of a terminal for changing a fixed resource allocation toreduce overhead in a mobile communication system, the apparatuscomprising: a resource allocation checker configured to determine acorresponding resource allocation changing method and a location of afixed allocation resource changed according to the correspondingresource allocation changing method when receiving a fixed allocationchange control message; and a controller configured to receive acorresponding traffic from the location of the changed fixed allocationresource.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fixed allocationchange control message comprises at least one of a bitmap indicative ofpre-allocated resource regions and un-allocated resource regions, atraffic Identifier (ID), a slot offset, a slot duration, and anindicator indicative of the resource allocation changing method.
 15. Anoperating method of a base station for changing a fixed resourceallocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system, themethod comprising: temporarily canceling one or more corresponding fixedallocation in a period of a corresponding fixed allocation resource; andreallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocation resourcesaccording to a corresponding rule.
 16. The operating method of claim 15,further comprising: transmitting a control information relating to theone or more fixed allocation resources temporarily canceled to acorresponding terminal.
 17. The operating method of claim 15, whereinthe reallocating of the one or more canceled fixed allocation resourcesaccording to the corresponding rule comprises: moving the one or morefixed allocation resources temporarily canceled to correspondingsubframes of a next fixed allocation resource period, wherein an indexof a subframe for the temporarily canceled fixed allocation resource isequal to an index of a subframe for the moved fixed allocation resource.18. The operating method of claim 15, wherein the reallocating of theone or more canceled fixed allocation resources according to thecorresponding rule comprises: within a frame comprising a first subframecorresponding to the temporarily canceled fixed allocation resource,moving the temporarily canceled fixed allocation resource to a nextsubframe of the first subframe.
 19. The operating method of claim 15,wherein the reallocating of the one or more canceled fixed allocationresources according to the corresponding rule comprises: in thecorresponding fixed allocation resource period corresponding to thetemporarily canceled fixed allocation resource, moving the temporarilycanceled fixed allocation resource to a second subframe of a next frameof a frame comprising a first subframe corresponding to the temporarilycanceled fixed allocation resource, wherein the first subframe and thesecond subframe have the same subframe index or different subframeindexes.
 20. The operating method of claim 15, wherein the reallocatingof the one or more canceled fixed allocation resources according to thecorresponding rule comprises: moving the temporarily canceled fixedallocation resource to a particular subframe.
 21. The operating methodof claim 15, wherein the reallocating of the one or more canceled fixedallocation resources according to the corresponding rule comprises:reallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocation resources usingcontrol information of a particular subframe pre-designated.
 22. Theoperating method of claim 15, wherein the temporarily canceled fixedallocation resource is reallocated only in the corresponding fixedallocation resource period, and the fixed allocation resource is notreallocated unless a total amount of resources allocated to thecorresponding subframe is greater than a threshold after thecorresponding fixed allocation resource period.
 23. The operating methodof claim 15, wherein the temporarily canceled fixed allocation resourceis reallocated only in the corresponding fixed allocation resourceperiod, and the fixed allocation resource is allocated in every fixedallocation period even after the corresponding fixed allocation resourcecycle according to the same rule regardless of a total amount ofresources allocated to the corresponding subframe.
 24. The operatingmethod of claim 15, wherein the reallocating of the one or more canceledfixed allocation resources according to the corresponding rulecomprises: reallocating the one or more canceled fixed allocationresources using at least one subframe among subframes between a subframein which the fixed allocation resources are cancelled and a certainsubframe.
 25. An operating method of a terminal for changing a fixedresource allocation to reduce overhead in a mobile communication system,the method comprising: receiving information to change a fixedallocation resource in a corresponding fixed allocation resource period;determining a location of a fixed allocation resource changed by acorresponding rule based on the information to change the fixedallocation resource; and at least one of receiving or transmittingtraffic in the changed fixed allocation resource location.
 26. Theoperating method of claim 25, wherein the locating of the fixedallocation resource changed by the corresponding rule comprises:determining a location of a resource in a next subframe of a subframecorresponding to a temporarily canceled fixed allocation resource. 27.The operating method of claim 25, wherein the locating of the fixedallocation resource changed by the corresponding rule comprises:determining a location of a resource in the same subframe of a nextframe of a frame comprising a subframe corresponding to a temporarilycanceled fixed allocation resource.
 28. The operating method of claim25, wherein the locating of the fixed allocation resource changed by thecorresponding rule comprises: determining a location of a resource in aparticular subframe.
 29. The operating method of claim 25, whereindetermining a location of a fixed allocation resource changed by thecorresponding rule comprises: receiving control information of aparticular subframe pre-designated; and determining a locate of aresource newly allocated using the control information.
 30. Theoperating method of claim 25, wherein the locating of the fixedallocation resource changed by the corresponding rule comprises:determining a location of the fixed allocation resource in at least onesubframe among subframes between a subframe in which the fixedallocation resources are cancelled and a certain subframe.